Film Details

The Sapphires does something rare for Australian musical films. Not content with simply finding a catchy melody, it searches for and claims its soul. Soul music courses through this movie and makes it one of the most original transplants of this uniquely American sound since The Commitments. It really does seem to be a universal music style.

The movie begins a long way from soul, in country and western territory in fact. It's 1968 and three Aboriginal sisters on a remote mission love to sing and dream of stardom. There's wild and ambitious Cynthia (played by Miranda Tapsell), young and talented Julie (Jessica Mauboy) and protective and feisty big sister Gail (Deborah Mailman). Federal laws in relation to Aboriginal rights have changed, but small town opinions haven't.

Unperturbed Cynthia and Gail head into town for a local talent quest. Running the show is down-on-his-luck Irishman Dave (Chris O'Dowd). When underage Julie gatecrashes the event and sings with her sisters, Dave takes notice. He hatches a plan to become the girls' manager, and take them all the way to Vietnam to perform for the US troops.

After much persuading, the girls head to Melbourne where they pick up another singer, cousin Kay (Shari Sebbens). Dave gives them a crash course in soul, gets them to feel the music and unleash some new moves. But Vietnam will be a profound experience for all of them in many ways, and there will be unexpected results for each member of The Sapphires.

The film is based on Tony Briggs' award-winning play, which was inspired by real life events. Briggs and Keith Thompson have expanded the script and taken us all the way from the remote station to the soldiers' camps in the war.

Director Wayne Blair is making his feature-film debut, and he does a very good job of keeping our focus on the central characters and not getting us lost in this rather wild and fast-moving story. While it's essentially a light-hearted comedy, the script does deal with some heavy and topical issues (both for its period setting and for today), and the transition from comedy to drama is handled well.

It's a good-looking film. A lot of attention has been paid to the detail of 1968, both in costumes and sets, not to mention cars and choppers. Actual location filming in Vietnam adds a lot of believability to the proceedings.

This is a movie about soul music, and Jessica Mauboy is inspired casting as the lead voice of The Sapphires. Her treatment of 60s classics is remarkable and she has such a winning screen presence.

Chris O'Dowd may be an overseas transplant into this Aussie movie, but he drives so much of the comedy and his timing and one-liners are absolute treats.

But if Mauboy is the voice, and O'Dowd is the laughs, it's Deborah Mailman who's the heart of The Sapphires. As the tough, protective, angry Gail she manages to strip away the comedy, music and 60s kitsch to reveal an effective drama about finding your place in the world, not getting kicked around by everyone else, and learning to forgive the sins of the past. She strikes the perfect balance, and it's another wonderful performance from one of this country's best actors.

Shari Sebbens and Miranda Tapsell are great and it's so refreshing to see strong and powerful female, and indigenous, characters in a genre film like this.

The Sapphires is proud to be a crowd-pleaser, and don't be surprised if you find yourself bursting into applause when the end credits start. It's a little gem of a movie. But I do have one objection. The music was so good, there needed to be more of it.